Leach, Chafee, Hauser and the Party of Lincoln
The three Republicans -- former Iowa Rep. Jim Leach (who formally endorsed Obama recently), former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, and former White House intelligence advisor Rita E. Hauser -- announced the formation of "Republicans for Obama," which will launch a Web site in the coming days that will be a clearinghouse of information for Republicans who want to learn more about the Illinois Democrat. The site will highlight the differences between Obama and McCain on the issues and let them know where they can go to see the candidate and how they can help in his election effort.
"From my perspective, this is simply not a time for politics as usual," said Leach, arguing that the portfolio of issues that will be passed on to the next president would be as daunting as any since World War II and would therefore require "inspiring, new, political leadership" and the kind of change he believes Obama's platform offers.
Leach, Chafee, and Hauser cited the presidential hopeful's approach to foreign policy and to the economy as reasons for supporting him over McCain, saying the Arizona senator would continue Bush Administration policies -- from the war in Iraq to an unwillingness to engage enemies in direct diplomacy -- that have hurt America's standing in the world and its financial stability.
Chafee said “we’ve seen our credibility shattered” over the last eight years. Added Leach: “The prospect that we’ll have more of the same -- that is the source of angst of many Republicans around the country."
Hauser also pointed to the difference between the two candidates' response to the conflict between Russia and Georgia as evidence of the need for a new kind of foreign policy. She said McCain's statements had indicated a bellicose and confrontational approach to dealing with Russia, while Obama had focused more on involving world organizations and working towards reconciliation.
Leach and Hauser both alluded to a McCain campaign theme of "putting country first" to explain why they had split with their party to support Obama, with Leach saying he and thousands of Republicans would be choosing "country over party in this election" -- and Hauser saying that while it was hard to walk away from her party's nominee she had to "put country first."
Hi there- I don't blog or comment EVER, but am a passive observer/reader of lots of blogs and comments. I happened by your site and just wanted to say...I don't know. Thank you? The more I read the more I realize how nuanced every issue is and how I truly am "conservative" in some respects and "liberal" in others. Eg, I don't believe in big government either- but today's GOP does not seem to espouse any such conservative tenets and seems completely run by far right idealogues who specialize in tactics and not governance. This has really done our political system a disservice, and though I am a democrat in a blue state, I'd love to have a real debate on real issues with real, respectable, civil representatives from both sides make their cases. It hurts me as a patriot to see my country so bitterly divided and for every issue to be so quickly parsed into "our" side vs. "their" side. There are many Americans willing to listen to all sides-why must these election campaigns-and frankly, the government- be run like reality tv show contests? Neither side is blameless, but I agree with you that I do see hope in Obama-and I'm so glad to have had the chance to come across your website and extend a virtual hand in a handshake with you. We don't have to agree on everything, but at least we can be civil.
I really appreciate your efforts and wish you the best in trying to restore GOP respectability-I'm tired of being treated like an idiot whose voting tendencies can be predicted by polls. Nothing is that simple, and I welcome true, intelligent debate. Thanks.
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